Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-10-28
AT TIE CAPITOL.

Al THE CAPITOL.
Reading of the Poem; Delivering
Of the Grafton.
The hall Of the House Of Delegates was
packed 10 st. utmost capacity last night, while
hundreds If not thousands turned away unable
10 ind even standing room. II seemed great
pity that no larger hall could De had. Tor II i5
certain that one twenty times as large would
not have held the people anxious 10 De- present
As Governor Lee, General Wade Hampton
and General Enrly came into the hall they were
greeted with loud cheers.
GOVERNOR LIZ.
As Governor Lee arose hc was welcomed win
enthusiastic applause, and spoke ~ follows;
Tie death of the commander Of the Army OF
Northern virginia occurred al Lexington on ihc
IGN Of October. 1870. and the pe0pleof that So
ton at once determined 10 organize an associa
ton with the intention OF marking ih an appi)-
pirate manner the place oi hiH burial. Nhl"h-
iiucia rccumbcut -iHtue ~ there today 10 pro c
hey have fully and faithfully eNo,uted Their
trust In this city the ladies of the Hollywood
Memorial Association never weary IN work Tor
the Confederate soldier. living or dea'.
and at once proceeded 10 take the necessary
scps 10 collect money 10 erect mohn-
| rhcut 10 General Lee I'm Richmond
| or lts vicinity. Another society was former
for fIc eame purpose little later, and was iho
result Of n call 10y General Juhal Early dh'
| senior Confederate soldier in Virginia. Tor q
meeting Of his Confederate comrades for the
purpose of tcstifyng their sorrow 81 the deati
| al fleir commander and peritctlng an orghnl-
zatlon 10 build % his memory monument.
memorable meeting on the 81 ~ N0Vemner,
! no was the result If General Early- action,
/ and a moIument association was prompuy
organized. Tho funds collected by ihl- is-,
BODY were during Governor hcmpers allnlu-
| isuatiOu placed boy them into the hands OF
| state bonrd, consi ting 81 me Governor Aull-
| tor, and treasurer. Al NE request Cl ln5
| Board Of Managers, of which General Eariy was
utcsilcut. this board then assumed the place
| of tho former one, ana ihis acuoh was CON
| trmed 10y law. Ihese two associnuohs' hhyihH
! he same objective point, then proceeded To-
carry cut the object for which they were
| formed.
Lftrrmy installation 10 ofico efforts 20 con.
! solidnte the two organizations into one were
! successfully made. Now With united purpof,
! We propose 10 continue this Work Of love. aud
| I'm two ycsrs from this date ! invite you here
| again 90 witness The unveiling, uIon ihls spol
! of nn cCuestiinn statue Co General Lee.
! We have iu our midst to-day the oncer who
| rrst Organized the move 20 form within tna
! ranks of the Confederate soldier an a-so'iH-
! ton 10 IcrpctuGtn tie memory OF me arm.
! commander Who was the first president OF TIE
| Monument Association. uLd whose near.
today beats a. steady ana strong for tho liyins
! a. it ihrot- tender and tru" Tor me dcad. !
! voice ihe unanimous WISH oi our a-S''lh,i'h il
| ass.rc General Juhal \. Early TO preside over
| uls incofing and now with great pleasure
| present him 20 this audience.
! GENERAL EARLY.
The applause with which General Early vas
| greeted showed the WeTm place De has lh ih'
| hearts of old Confedcrates. I'm q few remhf ia
| he cytressod HE qualification at the large
| catleril Z in spitc a. the weather. be @pohr
| of the great gathering which orfnalHel tAi7
! Monument Association, over which ffc7ldeH1
| Iayis presided.
Gerarai Eaily paid on eloquent tribute 10
| Mr.. Davis. cxIrg. -cd his deep regret at hi5
! atscIce. ard said that hc knew be express -H
| The sentiments of this vast crowd when be- ek-
| pressed the hope mat President DAVIS Wouid
| lie hero at the unveiling Of the proposed mon-
! umonL This tribute TO Mr Davis was lou-y
| spplaudcdl .....,,
| mcnt. hut that we owed it 10 ourselves 90 erect
! 10. ard that however certain men may go oac@
| ON their principles. the noble women OF the
| South would De ever true.
| Iuftuhiase General Early introduced Cap
| tain W. Gordon McCabe, Of Petersburg.
The Poem.
The committee had heen exceedingly for-
| tul ate IN securing Captain W. Gordon Mclh
| cf Petersburg, 20 rccitc the poem prepared i'i
| the c-cnsi0n by the gifted and lBmentoi Jam
| Baron Hope lately deceased. gallant aol-
| dior an accomplished scholar, poet OF mo-
| mean al ilitics himself. and the Intimate pr
| scral friend or Hopc, taptan McOape was
| recognized by an as The man Tor thr occdeioA.
| he introduced the reading n the poem 10y liio
following eloquent tribute 10 MS laueH''-
Nearly thirty years seo when Virginia; in
| tLis beautiful capital cf our Oli Domihlol'
| dedicated yondcr noble and impressive nloii"-
| ueut 10 George Washington, sho sent Ltf
| brayest singer. james Barron Hope thth D.
fret nu,h az his youthful genius. 10 swell tlo
| chorus Of praise ana reverence due her greAt
ost son Of our first Revolution.
Nobly DID he perform the command 1914
upop him. aid his stately poem with IFS sono-
roue elC0uence aud lofty epic inspiration SUI
stirs the pulses play and Ia. become classic
10 every Nirginisn not dead 70 the heroic past
Of his mother state. 90.
dcspite their poverty. resolved 10 erect statue
I'm enduring bronze TO Robert Lee ON y9hueI
| pctoyerlooking those " labor'd rampant llhe-.
where, after countless victories. at last ne
greatly stood az bay thus II was mat by ac-
claim the same brave singer, whose genius hai
grown but mcllOwer and bis touch the puIef
with the lapse Of time, was once more summon
ed 10 celebrate In song the deeds and virtues
! Of Vireiuss greatest son OF her second reFoiu-
tion the peer Of Washington In military genius,
patriotism. constancy. and valor.
Again he wrought in nOblest mood and as
ONLY the tue poet can, but alas scarce had he
nnished his task, when Death struck the voil'
pencil from the busy fingers and hushei that
deem, rich voice, whose manly cadences hai
made G0uhly musical for US this day the ryth-
mic sweep Of his stirring numbers.
| Thus in the service of his native state, IN
some sort. still serving his Old commander, fell
on sleep this knightly spirit, THIS accomplished
| man Of letters, this loyal friend, Who m hi'
| public as I'm his private life ever bore without
| reprosch the grand old name OF gentleman.
| At The request Of his family ana OF the Lee
Monument Association am here to-day 20 reai
in such poor fashion as may be allowed me his
poem wiitten in the very shadow OF death.
Memories Sncrun.
Great Mother Of great COmmonWealths
Men call our Mother state;
| And she 80 well has earned this name
That She may challenge Fate
! 10 snatch away the epiihet
| Long given her Of " great"
First of all Old England's outposts
| 10 stand fast upon these shores.
soon she brought a mighty harvest
10 n Peoples threshiug floors,
Aud more than golden grain was piled
Within her ample doors.
Betindher stormy sunrise shore,
Her shadow foil vast and long,
And ber mighty Admiral, English Smith,
Heads prodigious throng
OF a. mighty men, from Raleigh down,
| AS ever arose IN song.
Her names are the shining arrows
Which her ancient culver bears.
And their splendid sheaf has thickened
Through the long march OF the years,
While her great shield has been Furnished
Byher children's blood and tears-
Yes. Il Is true, my Countrymen,
We are rich IN names and blood,
And red have been the blossoms
From the first Colonial bud.
While her names have blazed as meteors
, by many Geld ana Hood.
And assome food tumultuous
, Ia aounLiug bellows rolled